Vet Center seeks to increase numbers

Published: Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 09:53 PM.

SHALIMAR — Two years after the Okaloosa County Vet Center opened, the facility is busy but still has room to grow.

“Things are going pretty good, but they could certainly be better,” said Cliff Harris, the center's director. “We could always see more people.”

The center opened in June 2011 to provide free counseling for veterans who served in war zones and their families.

They now have a caseload of about 250 people, but in such a veteran-rich area as Northwest Florida, Harris suspects they could be reaching more.

Over 32,000 veterans are estimated to be living in Okaloosa County, with another 22,800 and 6,200 in nearby Santa Rosa and Walton counties, respectively.

Harris said the number of people visiting the center has gradually increased, but it takes time for word to spread.

They provide counseling for individuals, couples, families, those who have lost a loved one, and people who have experienced military sexual trauma. They also hold group sessions, including a women’s group for spouses.

All services are free.

In the last 12 years of war, more people are coming home with post-traumatic stress disorder or difficulties with a partner related to repeated deployments, Harris said. They sometimes need help readjusting to civilian life.

If a veteran is seeing any impact to their quality of life —struggles in their marriage, feeling like they are about to lose their job, getting in trouble with the law — they should come see someone, he said.

The center’s therapists can usually see people right away, a benefit for those in crisis situations and something Harris is proud of.

“We try to emphasize to people we have no lines, no waiting list,” he said. “Come on in and we will see you.”

Visit the Okaloosa County Vet Center at 6 11th Ave. in Shalimar or call 651-1000. More information is available at www.vetcenter.va.gov.

Next: Help is available for PTSD

For those returning home from war, help is available for PTSD

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of recent Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans have returned home with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

PTSD occurs after a traumatic event, such as exposure to combat. Most people experience some symptoms after exposure, but if the symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause great distress or interrupt the person’s work or home life, they may have developed PTSD, according to the VA’s National Center for PTSD.

Symptoms include: reliving the event, having bad memories, nightmares or flashbacks; avoiding situations that remind you of the event or trigger memories, which could include thinking or talking about it; negative changes in beliefs and feelings about yourself or others, including fear, guilt or shame, or a lack of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable; and hyper arousal or feeling keyed up, jittery or always alert and on the lookout for danger, or having trouble concentrating or sleeping.

PTSD can also lead to depression, anxiety, drinking or drug abuse, employment difficulties and relationship problems, including divorce.

People with symptoms should seek help, the PTSD center reports. Current service members can contact Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 for help. The Okaloosa County Vet Center in Shalimar provides free counseling for all combat veterans and can be reached at 651-1000.

SHALIMAR — Two years after the Okaloosa County Vet Center opened, the facility is busy but still has room to grow.

“Things are going pretty good, but they could certainly be better,” said Cliff Harris, the center's director. “We could always see more people.”

The center opened in June 2011 to provide free counseling for veterans who served in war zones and their families.

They now have a caseload of about 250 people, but in such a veteran-rich area as Northwest Florida, Harris suspects they could be reaching more.

Over 32,000 veterans are estimated to be living in Okaloosa County, with another 22,800 and 6,200 in nearby Santa Rosa and Walton counties, respectively.

Harris said the number of people visiting the center has gradually increased, but it takes time for word to spread.

They provide counseling for individuals, couples, families, those who have lost a loved one, and people who have experienced military sexual trauma. They also hold group sessions, including a women’s group for spouses.

All services are free.

In the last 12 years of war, more people are coming home with post-traumatic stress disorder or difficulties with a partner related to repeated deployments, Harris said. They sometimes need help readjusting to civilian life.

If a veteran is seeing any impact to their quality of life —struggles in their marriage, feeling like they are about to lose their job, getting in trouble with the law — they should come see someone, he said.

The center’s therapists can usually see people right away, a benefit for those in crisis situations and something Harris is proud of.

“We try to emphasize to people we have no lines, no waiting list,” he said. “Come on in and we will see you.”

Visit the Okaloosa County Vet Center at 6 11th Ave. in Shalimar or call 651-1000. More information is available at www.vetcenter.va.gov.

Next: Help is available for PTSD

For those returning home from war, help is available for PTSD

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of recent Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans have returned home with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

PTSD occurs after a traumatic event, such as exposure to combat. Most people experience some symptoms after exposure, but if the symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause great distress or interrupt the person’s work or home life, they may have developed PTSD, according to the VA’s National Center for PTSD.

Symptoms include: reliving the event, having bad memories, nightmares or flashbacks; avoiding situations that remind you of the event or trigger memories, which could include thinking or talking about it; negative changes in beliefs and feelings about yourself or others, including fear, guilt or shame, or a lack of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable; and hyper arousal or feeling keyed up, jittery or always alert and on the lookout for danger, or having trouble concentrating or sleeping.

PTSD can also lead to depression, anxiety, drinking or drug abuse, employment difficulties and relationship problems, including divorce.

People with symptoms should seek help, the PTSD center reports. Current service members can contact Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 for help. The Okaloosa County Vet Center in Shalimar provides free counseling for all combat veterans and can be reached at 651-1000.